Automatic water heater



Sept. 23 1924. 1,509,592

c. J. DILLON ET AL AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER Filed Sent. 13. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 17 a $1 J 12 M 1 .1

Sept. 23 1924.

c. J. DILLON ET AL AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER F1106 Sent. 13. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm Nb n QM 90 m /I QM \m 9N J. a MN MW Patented Sepia .23, 1924 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS JOSEPH DILLON AND JOSEPH F. DILLON, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNEBYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER.

Application filed. September 13, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ConNnLIUs J. Dru LON and Josnrrr F. DILLON, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic ater Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Water heating systems and has for its object the provision of novel means whereby the flame which heats the water will be controlled by the temperature of the water, and which means may be readily applied to the hot water supply plants now in use.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will. be hereinafter fully described, the novel features; being subsequently particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation, partly broken away, of our improved mechanism interposed in a domestic hot water system;

F 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the valve chamber showing the means whereby the flowof fuel to the burner is controlled, the parts being in the position assumed when water is cold;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to F 2 with the valve about to cut Off the fuel supply;

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the fuel sup ply cut of]? Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the mecha nism shown in Fig. 2; I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the thermostatic chamber from which prcssure is applied to the fuel-controlling valve as the temperature of the water varies.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates an ordinary stand boiler into which water from a street main or other source of supply is fed through a supply pipe 2. 3 designates the usual drain pipe connected with the bottom of the boiler and 4 is the usual circulating pipe connected with a coil 5 in the usual heater casing 6, a gas burner 7 of the usual form being installed in heater casing in such position that the flame therefrom will play upon the coil 5 in the usual manner and as will be readily understood.

lower end of this post or Serial No. 409,893.

The upper end of the coil 5 is connected with the circulating pipe 8 by a pipe 9 which usually is coupled directly to the said circulating pipe 8 and the hot water is carried to the place of use through a pipe 10 leading from said circulating pipe 8 which also con nects with the top of the boiler l, as shown. In carrying out our invention, we interpose between the pipes 8 and 9, a thermostatic pressure chamber 11 which is provided at its lower end with a nozzle or tubular lateral ofl'set 12 to which the upper end of the pipe 9 is coupled and at the upper end of the said chamber the end of the pipe 8 is coupled, as clearly shown. The thermostatic chamber 11 is substantially a cylindrical body having an inner annular wall 13 whereby an inner chamber 14 having a closed upper end is provided and between the said inner wall and the outer wall of the chan her an annular reservoir 15 is produced, the said reservoir opening directly into the nozzle 12 but being closed to the chamber 14. To permit water to pass into the inner chamber 14, we provide through the lower end of the body of the thermostat a passage 16 controlled by a cutoff valve 17 and having its opposite ends opening into the nozzle 12 and the chamber 14 respectively, as shown in Fig. 6. From the lower end of the thermostat, a pipe 18 leads downwardly to the upper extremity of the valve chamber and is coupled to the top wall 19 of said cha1nher. This top wall 19 is bolted to a mating lower'wall 20 and between the two walls 19 and 20 is secured a diaphragm 21 which may be of rubber, leather or thin metal having the necessary flexibility. It will be readily noted, upon reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, that this diaphragm effectually closes the valve chamber to the pipe 18 so that the diaphragm will oscillate under variations of pressure in the water bearing thereon and contained in the said pipe 18.

From the'wall 20, a tubular post or standard 22 depends to the box or housing 23 constituting the valve chamber proper and the standard is bolted directly upon the top end of said box. A piston 24 is secured centrally to the diaphragm 21 by clamping plates 25 and 26 mounted on the piston at opposite sides of the diaphragm and a spring 27 is coiled around the piston between the lower clamping plate 26 and an adjusting screw 28 which is mounted ,in a bearing 29 provided within the pest 22. It will bereadily understood that by adjusting the screw 28 axially the tension of the spring 27 may be regulated and the diaphragm thereby set to sustain any desired pressure. Below the adjusting screw 28, a bell 30is carried by the piston 24 and this bell plays in a cup 31 secured in the top wall of the chamber 23 and containing mercury, as indicated at 32, whereby an effectual seal is provided at the top of the valve chamber. The pistone1;- tends through and below the cup 31 and its lower extremity is turned laterally to form a hook orlug 33 which 'en' 'ages and plays in a fork 34 at the extremity of the lateral arm 35 of an angle lever WlllCll is fulc'ruined at 36 within the valve chamber and has it's longer arm 37 ext'endir'rg upwardly, as clearly shown. To the iippjei' extremity of the arm 37, as indicated at 39, we pivot the upper end of the penduluin 38 which rre's to hold the angle lever with its longer arm at-eitlie'r side of the vertical plane of its fulcrum accordingly as the said lever may be shifted in the o perationoi the apparatus. Near its upper end, the arm 87 or the angle lever is constructed with a head 40 having an arcuate slot 41 which receives the extended end of a stud 42, constituting the pivotal connection between toggle links 43 and 44. The lower to' ggle link 43 is pivoted at its lower end upon a boss or lug 45 projecting from the back wall of the casing 23, while the upper end of the toggle link 44 is pivoted to the valve lever 46. The said lever 46 is fulcrumed at 47 upon the lug 45 and carries a mercury cup 48 at one end and a counterbalance 49 at its opposite end. The gas is supplied to the burner through a feed pipe comprising a section 50 leading from the gas meter to the valve chamber and a section 51 extending from the top of the valve chamber to the burner. The pipe 51, as clearly shown, communicates with the valve chamber through an elbow or coupling 52 which is located directly over the mercury cup and is equipped with a port normally closed by a plug 53 to facilitate the feeding of mercury into the cup. From the coupling 52, a nipple 54 depends into the cup so that the lower end oi said nipple may be closed to the gas by theme-- cury in the cup 48, as shown in Fig. 4. A pilot tube 55 has one terminal disposed lHlinediately adjacent the burner 7 and its other terminal within the valve chamber and adjacent but above the lower end ofthe nipple 54, as shown. A sniall opening 56 in the .pilot tube constantly open to the gas.

57 designates a pet cock of any ordinary type which may be provided to permit draining of the pipe 18 and thereby avoid freezing of the water when the apparatus is not in use in cold weather.

Water is led into the system in the usual manner through the supply pipe 2, the valve 17 being closed until all the pipes of the system have been filled and the air (lllXOIl out. This water will be under the same pressure as that in the city mains. After the system has been filled, the valve 17 is opened whereupon some of the water will flow from the reservoir 15 through the pas-- sage 16 into the pipe l8 and lhe chamber H. the air in the upper end of the chamber l4- h'eing trapped therein as is obvious. After the pressure of the water in the pipe 19 balances the pressure of the water in the reservoir, the valve 17 is closed and the apparatus will then be ready for use. The pilot light ted by the tube 55 will burn constantly the minute opening 55 supplying just enough fuel to maintain the same. \Vhen the mercury cup 48 is lowered uiider thp operation oi the device, the end of the pilot tube will he uncovered so as to adinit a greater supply of fuel to the pilotliglit whereby 'said light will burn more intensely. the continued downward movement of the mercury cup eventually uncovering the hipple54 so that gas may How to the burner 7 and will be immediately ignited as it issues from said burner. By this arrangement of parts. we guard against leakage of gas at the burner and insure the proper ignition oi the fuel when an increased supply of hot water is needed. As the water in the reservoir i5 and the pipe feeding the same hecomcs heated. the inner wall 13 of the thermostat will also be heated and the air trapped in the upper end of the chamber 14- will he raised in temperature so that it will tend to expand and the prcsslire exerted thereby will be increased. The increased pressure of the heated and expanded air will be transmitted through the water column in the pipe l8 to the diaphragm 21 so that it will he depr ssed and the piston 24 lowered. As the water cools, the trapped air. which forms a thermostat. will contract and the pressure upon the diaphragm will be reduced so that it may lift under the influence of the spring 27. Assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 2. gas in a large volume is flowing through the nipple 54 and a. large flame at the burner 7 is playing upon the (oil 5. The water is consequently being heated and a supply of hot water being established in the boiler 1. When the piston 24 descends. as has been described. the hook or luf 33 is carried "from the position. shown in l ig. ll. midway between the arins of the fork 34. into contact with the lower of said arms and will press downwardly thereon. as

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the circulating pipe with shown in Fig. 3, so that the angle lever will be rocked upon its fulcrum and the upper end of the pendulum will be carried inwardly or toward the vertical plane of the piston. This described movement is gradual until the pendulum and the long upstanding arm of the angle lever are in the same vertical plane, which plane will also pass through the pivot 42 connecting the togg le links 43 and 44. A very slight continued movement of the piston will then carry the pendulum past the said vertical plane and bring the arm of the angle lever into an unbalanced position whereupon the weight of the pendulum will accelerate the movement of the lever and carry it to the position shown in Fig. 4 with a jumping or snapping action. Obviously, the arcuate slotted head must move with the lever arm 37 and the end of the slot 41 is thus made to impinge against the pivot stud 42 and shift the same from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 4 straightening the toggle and thereby actuating the lever 46 so as to quickly lift the mercury cup 48 into position around the ends of the nipple 54 and the pilot tube 55 to seal the same and cut off the flow of gas. The toggle joint, of course, is constructed with a stop shoulder to limit the movement and prevent binding of the parts. As the temperature of the water drops, the piston will be raised under the influence of the spring 27 and the end lug or book 33 eventually brought into engagement with the upper arm of the fork 34 to lift the same and effect a reverse movement of the lever arm 37 and the pendulum, the result being that the toggle is buckled and the lever 46 is swung down to the position shown in Fig. 2 to permit fuel to again flow to the burner.

It will be readily seen that we have pro vided an automatic apparatus of simple construction and arrangement which will permit a flow of gas in sufficient quantity to insure ignition and will cut off the flow quickly so that there will be no leakage nor waste. 4

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a water-heating system, the combination of a circulating pipe, a burner, a reservoir interposed in the circulating pipe, an air chamber surrounded by said reservoir, a pipe depending from and open to the air chamber, a valved passage connecting said depending pipe, and means controlled by the pressure in the air chamber upon liquid in said depending pipe for regulating the flowof fuel to the burner.

2. In a water-heating system, the combination of a circulating pipe, a burner, a

feed pipe connected with said burner, a pilot tube leading to the burner, and thermostatically controlled means whereby normally the flow through the feed pipe is entirely cut-off and the flow to the pilot light is partly cut-off, said means being arranged to establish full flow through the pilot tube and subsequently establish flow through the feed pipe.

3. In a water-heating system, the combination of a circulating pipe, a burner, a feed pipe leading to the burner, a pilot tube also leading to the burner and having a constant minimum flow, a valve arranged to permit augmented flow through the pilot tube and then establish flow through the feed pipe, thermostatic means interposed in the circulating pipe connections between said thermostatic means and the valve including an angle lever, and means acting on said angle lever foryieldably holding the same in a set position.

4. In a water-heating system, the combination of a water-circulating pipe, a burner, a valve controlling the supply to the burner, a chamber housing said valve. a lever mounted in the said chamber and carrying the valve, an angle lever having a lost-motion connection with the first-mentioned lever, means for yieldably holding said angle lever in a set position, a piston arranged to oscillate the angle lever, and theru'iostatic means interposed in the watercirculating pipe for actuating said piston.

5. In a water-heating system, the combt nation of a circulating pipe, a pressure chamber interposed in said pipe and comprising a hollow body having an inner chamber closed at its upper end and an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber, a valve-controlled passage connecting the lower ends of said chambers, a burner, and means in communication with the lower end of. the said inner chamber and re sponsiveto the pressure therein for controlling the flow of fuel to the burner.

6. In a water-heating system, the combination of a water-circulating pipe, a burner, a valve controlling the flow to the burner, a lever carrying said valve, a toggle connected to said lever, an angle lever having a lostmotion connection with. the joint of the toggle, a pendulum suspended on the up per end of the angle lever, and thermostatic means interposed in the water circulating pipe for actuating said angle lever and having a lost-motion connection therewith.

7. In a water-heating system, the combi-- nation. of a water circulating pipe, a burner, a pipe conveying fuel to the burner, a pilot tube leading to the burner, means for main taininga constant minimum flow through the pilot tube, means for sealing the ends of the pilot tube and of the fuel-conveying pipe, and thermostatic; mea-iis interposed in the water circulating pipe for releesing the sealing means from the pilottube and the fuel-conveying pipe successively whereby to permit an augmented flow through the pilot tube and establish flow through the fuelm W e Pipe l to I r 8. In a wetter-heating system, the combination of a water circulating pipe, 2i burner, a pipe conveying t'uel to the burner, a pilot tube leading to the burner and heviiig a constantly open iiiletend e second inlet, means for moment closing the fuel-conveying pipe and closing the second inlet the pilot tiibe, zihd thermostatic me interposed inthe water circulating pipe and acting on the last-mentioned ineans to open the second inlet of the pilot tube and then open the fuel-cohveying pipe.

9. In a w'ziter heeting systen'l, the combination of a water circulating pipe, aburner, a. housing, etuel feeding ihpeheving an open end the housing, a pilot tube having an open end iiithe housing and havinge coiis'tently open inlet in direct con municetion with the housiiig indepeiidehtly of its open end, ineens for supplying fluid fuelto the housiii g; a .cup zidapted to seal the open ends of the fuel-feeding pipe end the pilot tube, ii "lever within the housiiig carrying said cup; and thermostatic ineens interposedin the Welter circultiting pipe and operetively connected with seid lever.

In a water-heatiiig system, the co nibinetion of a; water ciroulatiirg pipe, a burner. a feed pipe le'giding to the burner, e velve controlling the flow through the. feed pipe,

' a lever connected with said valve to move the seine fro'm opeh to closed position and vice versa, 2i toggle suppor ersaid lever disposed between theifulcrumthereof and the velve, a thermostat iiiterposed, in the water circulating pipe; aiiid lost motion neens operated by the thermostat to bend or straighteil the toggle whereby to actuate the lever. I

11. In 9, weterheeting system, the combinitioii of ewzitei' circulating pipe, at buriier, e feed pipe leeding tov the burner; a valve co-ntrolliiig the flow through the feed pipe, a; lever connected with said vei-lve to move the same from open to closed position and vice verse; toggle support for siiid .lever disposed between the fulcrum thereof and the verve, a therinostzit interposed in the witter circulating pipe an tingle lever provided at one end with an arcuate slot engaging the joint of the toggle, end operetive connections between the therin'ostit and the angle lever.

12. Iii a we ter-heating system, the combination of a water circuliiting pipe, a burner; a feed pipe leeding to the burner, 21; valve controlling the now through the feed pipe,

a lever cb iectd with 'sziid valve move the same from open 6 closed positioh and vice verse, :1 togglesupport for suid lever disposed between the fulcrum thereof and the valve, a. thermostat interposed in the whter circuletil g pipe, an jingle lever operatiirely eohnected with thetoggle and having a fork at one 'end and apiston operaiied by the thetriiostetend having one end 1) flying in the fork of the eiiglelever.

13. In a water-heating system, the combination (it a water cii'cii atin pipe. a bu'mler, a feed pipe leading; to the. ,m1'i1er, 2i valve controlliiig the thew tl'u'ough the feed pipe, a lever conneeted with siiid v'alve to 'move the same from opeii to Closed position rind vice verse; n toggle su )port for lever disp "sed between the lulcrunl thereof and the valve, a theinio stat interposed in the wa ter circulating pipe; an angle lever rovided at one end with slot ngaging the joint in at the toggle the provided with a fork atits 'o' 'o'site nd, end a piston operated by the thermostat eiid .havingi one end p'lziyin'g in the fork of the ztiigle lever. v 7

l4. In 21 weter-l ieeiting; svlten'i, the combi nation of water oircuhitiii'g pipe, at buine'l. a feed pipe leading to the buiner, at valve coiitrolliiif; the flow through the feed pipe. a lever coiinected with said valve to move the same from open to closed position and vice verse, e tog le supdol for sid lever disposed between the fulcrum thereof and the vzilve, thrriiostltt interposed in the we tei' Circulating pipe, :in angle lever )rovided at one end with ;1 slot engaging the oint pin of the toggle and providedwith a fork :it its opposite end; 21 piston operated by the thermostet and hiiving one end plztyin in thefork of the angle lever, imd a pendudum pivotally huiig upon the upper end of the angle lever.

15. In a wa'ter-heritihg system, the-combinetioii of a water-circulating ipe, aburn'er; a feed pipe lee-ding to the burner, 11 housing iiitei p'osed in therein pipe, :1. pilot tube leading from the musing to the burner, a. diaphragm supported by and closed to said housing, athermos tat interposed in the weter-circulating pipe and ectin' oh said dilr phragm, a piston depending lrom the diahmgm into the housing; a lever fulcrumed within the housing, a valve carried by oiie end of said lever to elo'se the feed pipe and the end of the pilot tube, a cou nter-lmlanee on the opposite end of the lever, an angle lever fulcrunied within the housing below the first-mentioned lever, the shoiter lateral arm of the angle lever being forked and having a lost-motion engagement with the end of the piston and thelonger arm of said lever extending upwardly and being provided edjaeent its upper extremity with a transverse arcuzitc slot, a pendulum hunt;

upon the upper extremity of the angle lever, tog -le link the pivotal connection between a toggle link having its upper end pivoted the toggle links playing in the arcnete slot 10 to the first-mentioned lever between the fulof the angle lever.

CI'HIII of the same and the valve carried In testimony whereof We 011i signetherehy, and a second toggle link pivoted at tures.

its lower end to a fixed point in the housing and having it pivotal connection at its CORNELIUS JOSEPH -1 upper end With the lower end of the first JOSEPH DILLON 

